The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1887-05-21
sontI.west E.oulsIana.
mes-Democrat.

Times-D Democrat.
The Country Gentleman, which has
been investigating Southwest Loui-
siana, goes wild over that section of
the State, and challenges any portion
of the South to surpass it in natural
advantages and attractions.
"The combinations there found" it
says, "are such as have never dawned
on the Northern and Western mind.
When once seen they will be promptly
avaIled Of" Indeed, they have already
been availed of. The Times Democrat
has given, from time to time, an &C.
count of the settlement of Western
people in Calcasieu and 81. Landry.
The first settler from Iowa established
himself in Calcasieu, after long
effort at persuasion by the Gommls-
sioner of Immigration, some four
years ago. Since then, the movement
there from the West has been steady.
The Country Genteman declares that
the activity in the way Of settlement
in that portion Of the State cannot be
exaggerated;
"Tha first settlers are now pushing
farther of, and taking up homesteads
in less eligible localities. or buying
land farther cast in the State. The
rush for homes seems rather TO in
crease than diminish as the homesteads
diminish, and the benefcent wave
promises to batho ultimately all South
west Louisiana in its flow. To say
that the country is transformed is a
very unimpressiVe way to put II. 1t
is metamorphosis, The vast stretches
of prairie, where formerly to the hori-
zon's verge often not a house was to
be seen, are now thickly dotted with
the tenements of the immigrant. Wire
fences divide the land into numerous
fields. Fruit orchards Of peach, april
cot and neetarine-strange to say, the
last two are raised almost untouched
as yet by curcuio-abound, and The
fig, pear, apple, ounce, etc, are being
liberalIy planted. The windmill is
putting in an appearance and occa.
siopally herds of thoroughbred cattle
are seen, while grades of improved
breeds are common. Here and there,
fields of cultivated grasses are seen
red clover, blue grass, timothy, rodtop,
etc., which all do well but the main
reliance is the grass of the prairies-
Pd8pdium OVatum and p. l@Ve--a
wonderful grass, and of which the
newcomers are so proud that they
speak contemptuously of the faYorite
grasses at their old homes in compaFi-
son with it. This grass makes a superb
hay, will readily yield a ton and half
per acre, and easily two cuttings per
season. 1t is a rich, hardy grass, and
the only resource of native cattle the
year around. The hay sells at Ss per
ton, and is becoming q rival of West
ern hay in New Orleans and other ac-
cessible markets. Farther east, the
climate is little milder and the land
more fertile. The orange, IN places,
can be successfully raised ; and homes,
with fishing, sailing, snipe, wild duck,
prairie chickens and accessibility to
New Orleans can be found.n
This is full tribute TO Southwest
Louisiana, and the most patriotic citi-
zen of the State could scarcely say
more. We are glad to sec that the
attractions of that section are beGonl-
ing known in the North. The people
Of Calcasleu and st. Landry need do
nothing more for immigration. The
natural advantages Of their country
are known, and these advantages
now being recognized throughout the
Nortb-are the most earnest immigra.
tion agents they could have.